Books to Welcome the Night

Amy Fauss
April 25, 2013

What child isn't fascinated with the moon, or twinkling stars and constellations? Or nocturnal owls and bats that take flight at night and fill the dark skies? Nighttime is alluring and mysterious, as there's a whole new world that comes to life when the sun goes down—new sights, smells, colors and even emotions. Think about Vincent Van Gogh's painting Starry Night with its vibrant light and swirling energy. Van Gogh once said, "I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day."

Most of the time we miss the enchanting, and sometimes frightening, nighttime world as we lay in bed tucked under soft covers, counting sheep and dreaming about exotic adventures. Thankfully there are many talented authors and illustrators who have found creative ways to unlock the magic of the moon and the mystery of the darkness, and shed light on just what it is that captivates us so about the night.

Here are eight of our favorite books about the night:

I Love the Night

From crickets rubbing their wings together in song, to an octopus rousing in the depths of the ocean and a luna moth laying her eggs, this whimsical story offers a wondrous glimpse of night time creatures and their activities.

Night in the Country

Rylant begins, "There is no night so dark, so black as night in the country. In little houses people lie sleeping and dreaming about daytime things, while outside—in the fields, and by the river, and deep in the trees—there is only night and nighttime things." An excellent book to explore with your little ones.

Blackout

A hot summer night in the city cools off once the blackout hits and the lights go out. People forget their busyness with computers, phones and video games, and plug into one another instead.

Switch on the Night

This endearing story tells of the transformation of a little boy who moves from a place of fearing the night and "switching off" the night (by turning lights on), to thoroughly enjoying the night and all that it offers, eventually "switching on" the night (by turning the lights off). What a fun read!

At Night

After reading this you'll want a rooftop patio and garden of your own—perfect for curling up with a blanket under the stars and dreaming the night away.

Crab Moon

Who doesn't enjoy moonlit walks on the beach? Crab Moon provides a look into the lives of horseshoe crabs when a boy and his mother discover a large group of crabs laying eggs in the sand.

Bats at the Library

Whether you like bats or not, you're sure to find them a bit more tolerable—even adorable—after reading of their adventures at the library. 

What Makes Day and Night

Our list wouldn't be complete without a few scientific facts explaining the process of our spinning planet and how the sun hits different parts of it at different times to create day and night.